Multiplex terminal spreader



Oct. 11, 1960 H. A. BITHER' 2,956,104

MULTIPLEX TERMINAL SPREADER Filed July 6, 1959 INYENTOR.

' I HAROLD A.BITHER ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 11, 1960 fu l MULTIPLEXTERMINAL SPREADER Harold A. Bither, 3943 SE. 174th Ave., Portland '36,Greg.

Filed July 6, 1959, Ser. No. 825,112

9 Claims. (Cl. 174-44) This invention relates to a device for holding aplurality of electric power conductors in spaced apart relation tofacilitate making transformer connections and the connection of branchlines such as the service conductors to an individual customer, and forholding the connecting terminals permanently in spaced relation. Theinvention is especially useful on pole line circuits of the cable typewhere two or three heavy stiff insulated conductors are bound togetherin compact relationship about a supporting messenger cable and a bareneutral conductor by a spinner wire.

It has become the practice to make service connections to the power lineconductors at the closest mid-span points between the pole supports. Inmaking such connections it is necessary to cut the spinner Wire andseparate the conductors for a short interval so that they will be spacedseveral inches apart. The linemans task is complicated by the fact thatthe work usually must be done while the power line is energized. Thelineman must, therefore, proceed with extreme caution to avoid injury tohimself and to avoid creating a short circuit which would produce apower outage in the secondary circuit on which he is working. The deviceof the present invention has the twofold purpose of facilitating thework of the linemen under the conditions above described, and ofproviding an improved and inexpensive terminal spreader for the purpose.The present device is an improvement over that disclosed in my priorPatent No. 2,868,861.

In consideration of the existing problems hereinabove pointed out, theobjects of the present invention are to provide an improved multiplexterminal spreader; to provide a terminal spreader of the type describedwhich contains fewer parts, is cheaper to manufacture, and moreconvenient to install than prior devices for this purpose; to provide aterminal spreader which does not require any fastening elements; toprovide a terminal spreader which can be made conveniently from stockmaterial with a minimum of manufacturing operations; and to provide asimplified form of construction which is readily adaptable to use withdifferent numbers of conductors.

The present device is made very simply and inexpensively from twodifferent sizes of plastic tubing, and consists of merely I three orfour pieces of such tubing, depending upon the number of conductors,fitted together and held in assembled relation by the conductorsthemselves without the necessity for any fastening elements. A piece ofsmall tubing is split longitudinally to receive the messenger cable andbare conductor. Each spreader arm consists of a piece or larger tubinghaving a central transverse hole to receive therein the small tube or tofit over the messenger cable and bare conductor abutting the end of thesmall tube. A transverse slot intersecting such hole allows the tube orcables to be inserted therein. The ends of the spreader tubes arenotched to receive the insulated conductors. When there are more thantwo insulated conductors, a third spreader tube is mounted on the centerof the small longitudinal tube. The spread apart conductors act as howstrings to hold the parts assembled in fixed relation.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects andadvantages will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionof certain preferred embodi-' ments illustrated on the accompanyingdrawing. Various changes may be made, however, in the construction andarrangement of parts, and certain features may be used without others,all such modifications within the scope of. the appended claims beingincluded in the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the present spreader mounted on amultiple conductor assembly at a point of 1 connection with branchconductors;

Figure 2 shows how the spreader arms may be bent to open the centralhole for mounting on the longitudinal-I spacer tube;

Figure 3 shows how the three parts of the spreader of' Figure l nesttogether in a compact package for storage and shipment;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the terminal spreadershown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified arrangement having a thirdspreader arm mounted in the center of the longitudinal spacer tube; and

Figure 6 is a plan view of another modification mounted on a secondarycircuit preparatory to the connection of branch conductors.

Figure 1 illustrates a typical service connection of the type on whichthe present device may be used to advantage. Grouped about a baremessenger cable 10 and a bare neutral conductor 11 are a pair ofinsulated conductors 12 and 113. This assemblage is wrapped by a barespinner wire 14 which binds all the conductors to the messenger cable.The messenger cable is supported at intervals on poles.

Two service connections A and B are illustrated by way of example, thepresent device being adapted for use with either one or several suchservice connections. Each serv ice connection comprises a bare neutral15, an insulated conductor 16, and an insulated conductor 17. Theseservice conductors are, in the present instance, connected to therespective pole line secondary circuit conductors by conventionalcompression connectors 20 at a mid-span location between two poles. Theservice conductors are supported by a bridle 21 looped about themessenger cable 1% and connected with dead end fitting 22 on the serviceneutral '15. The insulated service conductors 16 and 17 are ordinarilysupported on the neutral 15 by being twisted therearound.

The spreader shown in Figure 1 comprises a small diameter longitudinalplastic tube 30 and a pair of larger diameter transverse plastic tubes31. Suitable stock for these tubular members is provided by outing offappropriate lengths of Du Pont polyethylene piping but the invention isnot limited to this particular material. The plastic material of whichthis piping is made has excellent properties for the present purpose,being tough and strong, yet sufficiently flexible that it can be bentwithout breaking or cracking, resistant to deterioration in the weather,and possessed of satisfactory insulating qualities.

The small longitudinal tube 30 is prepared by merely slitting itlongitudinally at 32 and making small transverse holes 33 in each endperpendicular to the plane of slit 32. Each larger piece of tubing 31 isprepared by cutting a central transverse circular hole 35 With acommunicating slot 36 in one side of the tube. The diameter of hole 35is of a size to receive the tube 30 with a tight fit. Tube sections 31are mounted on the tube 30 by bending them back to open up the slot 36and hole 35, as shown in Figure 2. Preferably, when the hole 35 is cut,the tube is flattened to some extent as would result by gripping it in avise whereby, as the tube subsequently returns to its original circularshape, the hole becomes somewhat el iptical giving a greater grippingelfect on the longitudinal tube 30,;

The ends of the tube sections 31. are notched to support the insulatedconductors. formed by cutting transverseconductor holes 4t} adjacenteach end parallel withthe hole 35'. Tapered slots 41 in the ends of thetube communicate with holes 40 whereby the conductors may be pressedinto these slots to spread the sides thereof apart sufficiently topermit the conductors to pass intothe holes 46). After the slots havethus been spread, the walls thereof spring together again by the naturalresilience of the material which behaves under distortion in the mannerof stiff rubber.

To install the spreader as shown in Figure l, the spinner wire 14 isfirst cut and the ends laid back out of the way. The insulatedconductors 12 and 13 are then spread away from the messenger-cable 1t)and bare neutral conductor 11 for a distance sufiicient to permit thetube to be slipped over these two cables. The cut ends of spinner wire14 are then passed through the holes 33 and twisted,-as indicated at 45,to form a'fairly tight loop 46 which will prevent opening of the slit32. The tubular arms 31 are then applied to the tube 39 in parallelrelation adjacent the opposite ends of the latter. Insulated conductors12 and 13. are then placed in the holes 41 it being noted that the cableand conductors 1%, 11, 12 and 13 are not cut in the process ofinstalling and mounting the spreader device.

The operator is then ready to connect the service line A. The bridle 21is looped over the messenger cable with the dead end connector 22secured to the neutral conductor to support the street end of theservice conductor assemblage. Compression connector fitting is appliedto connect bare neutral conductor 15 with bare neutral conductor 11.

With the insulated conductors 12 and 13 thus held in parallel spacedapart relation between the spreader arms 31, the insulation may besafely removed from portions of these conductors between the spreaderarms to receive compression connector fittings 29 on the ends of serviceconductors 16 and 17. The conductors 16 and 1'7 are preferably disposedeither in the conductor holes 4% or the slot 41 of the spreader arms 31,depending upon the sizes of the secondary circuit and serviceconductors. The usual tape or other insulation is not required over theconnectors 20 or bare ends of conductors 16, 1"], since these bare partsare held permanently separated by the spreader arms 31. The spreadershown in Figure l is especially adapted for one or two serviceconnections, such as A and B, but will also accommodate a larger numberof branch line connections when necessary.

In placing the spreader tubes 31 on the longitudinal tube 30, the slit32. and slots 36 may be staggered to best advantage to prevent anytendency for them to open. The tension and stiffness of the heavyconductors 12 and 13 places the spreader tubes 31 under longitudinalcompression, tending to close the slots 36 and prevent bending of thetubes as shown in Figure 2. In any case where the conductors 12 and 13are not still and heavy, the same result is accomplished by the spinnerwire 1 5- which binds the conductors together at a short distance fromeach end of the spreader. Thus, the walls of holes 35 are clampedtightly against the tube 30 to prevent any movement of spreader tubes 31thereon. Additionally, the convergence of conductors 12 and 13 preventstube 31 from slipping off the end of tube 30 and the connectors 20,which are larger than holes 40, prevent tube 31 from moving away fromthe end of tube 30.

Figure3 shows how the three parts may be nested for storage andshipment. The twolarger tubes 31 will conveniently receive the smallertube 30 therewithin to Preferably, each notch is make a compact packagecontaining all the parts necessary to assemble the spreader. No smallparts or fastening devices are used.

Figure 5 shows how a third spreader arm 31 may be mounted on the centerof tube 30 in a circuit having additional conductors. In this case, thecentral arm 31a is mounted at right angles to the end arms 31 to hold astreet light wire or another conductor in spaced relation to the planeof conductors 12 and 13 extending between the end arms. This arrangementis suitable for a three phase circuit having three insulated conductorsand a bare neutral, the latter being contained within the central tubeLtd as in the case of the bare neutral 11 in Figure l. The other end ofarm 31a will then accommodate a street light wire, if desired. 7

Figure 6 illustrates a modified spreader arrangement for the circuitshown in Figure l. Here, the tubular spreader arms 31b have transversecentral holes 35b corresponding to the inside diameter of the opening intube 30 whereby the arms are not mounted on the tube 39 but, instead,are mounted on the messenger and neutral cables 10 and 11 abutting theends of tube 3i This abutting relation is maintained by the convergenceof conductors 12 and 13 which are bound to the messenger and neutralcables by the spinner wire 14 at a short distance from the spreader armsas shown in Figure l. The split 32 in tube 34 which does not appear asthe device is viewed in Figure 6, is held closed by the loops 46 inspinner wire 14 which, in this case, passes through central holes 35b inarms 31b and thence through holes 33 whereby the spinner wire isanchored to the ends of tube 3% as explained in connection with Figurel. Arms 31b are equipped with holes it} and notches 4 1 the same as arms31.

Figure 6 shows the arrangement just described before the serviceconnections have been applied, the insulation having been removed fromportions of the conductors 12 and 13 between the arms 31b to receive theconnector fittings of the branch conductors. The length of tube 36provides ample space for three or four branch connections when desired.When only one or two branch connections are to be made, the tube 30 maybe somewhat shorter with a resultant saving of material. In any event,in each embodiment herein illustrated the tube 30 may be cut to asuitable length to accommodate the number of branch connections whichare to be made.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may beused, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A terminal spreader for use in connecting branch wires to a pluralityof continuous power supply conductors suspended in a compact group witha supporting messenger cable, comprising a longitudinally split tubeadapted to receive a messenger cable extending longitudinallytherethrough, and a pair of separate spreader members having detachableengagement with opposite end portions of said tube, each of saidspreader members comprising an integral unitary body having a centralopening and a plurality of conductor engaging means spaced radially fromsaid central opening, and said body having a slot extending outwardlyfrom said opening providing access thereto.

2. A terminal spreader for use in connecting branch wires to a pluralityof continuous power supply conductors suspended in a compact group witha supporting messenger cable, comprising a pair of spreader member eachspreader member comprising an integral unitary body having a centralopening and a plurality of conductor engaging notches spaced radiallyfrom said central opening, said body having a slot extending outwardlyfrom said opening providing access thereto, and a flexible spacer tubehaving a single longitudinal slit adapted to receive a messenger cableto extend longitudinally therethrough, said spreader members havingdetachable e'ngagement with end portions of said tube, and said spreadermembers being adapted to be 'held in said detachable engagement withsaid tube by convergent conductors engaged in said notches whereby saidtube maintains said spreader members in spaced apart relation.

3. A terminal spreader as defined in claim 2, said central opening ofeach spreader member receiving said tube in frictional engagement.

4. A terminal spreader as defined in claim 3 wherein the walls of saidcentral openings are adapted to be pinched against said tube bycompressive forces exerted on said spreader members by conductorsengaged in said notches.

5. A terminal spreader as defined in claim 2, said central opening ineach spreader member being smaller than the outside diameter of saidtube and said spreader members having abutting engagement with the endsof said tube.

6. A terminal spreader comprising a longitudinally split tube, a pair ofspreader arms having transverse central openings receiving andfrictionally engaged with said tube, each arm having a lateral slotcommunicating with one side of said opening, and said arms being adaptedto hinge on thesides opposite said slots to open said slots forreceiving said tube into said opening.

7. A terminal spreader comprising a longitudinally split tube, a pair ofspreader arms having transverse central openings receiving andfrictionally engaged with said tube, each arm having a lateral slotcommunicating with one side of said opening, said arms being made offlexible material to bend on the sides opposite said slots and open saidslots for receiving said tube into said opening, and conductor engagingmeans in the outer end portions of said arms.

8. A terminal spreader comprising a longitudinally split tube offlexible insulating material, and a pair of tubular spreader arms offlexible insulating material at opposite ends of said tube, each armhaving a transverse central opening and a slot extending between saidopening and one side of the arm, and conductor engaging notches in theouter end portions of said arms.

9. A terminal spreader comprising a longitudinally split tube offlexible insulating material, and a pair of tubular spreader arms offlexible insulating material at opposite ends of said tube, each armhaving a transverse central opening and a slot extending between saidopening and one side of the arm, said first tube being nestable in saidspreader arm tubes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS303,818 Arnold Dec. 2, 1884 2,868,861 Bither Jan. 13, 1959 2,869,263Dillen Jan. 20, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 826,115 Germany Dec. 27, 19511,035,230 Germany July 31, 1958

